Useful Tools For PT Maintenance and Repair

[jsduke]

Outside of major shop machines (welders, lathes ...) what kind of hand tools, both manual and powered have you found indispensable or just plain useful for keeping your PT healthy?

When I bought the 425 I figured a bit more above the purchase price for tools and equipment. Before I open the wallet and get a few tools (flare nut wrenches for example) that may or may not have any more utility beyond sockets and combination wrenches, I thought I would ask the forum.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Depending on how deep you want to get into "repair" there could be a ton, or not much. For me, Socket Set, Open End Wrench, screwdrivers and crowbars. I change a lot of tires so the impact wrench is a nice handy tool. I don't use a torque wrench, just me but I don't.

The best hand tool purchases beyond the basics I would suggest to any PT owner is Crows Feet and Bent or Curved Open End Wrenches.

If you have a Deutz, you need some Metrics and some star sockets to get through the day. I don't touch pump and hydraulic motor repair, not sure if you need special tools or not (I don't think so). I do do cylinders, so you need a pipe wrench.

Finally a welder, stick or Mig. These machines are pretty much designed to be welded on, so not a bad tool to have.

 

[cqaigy2]

Tools used on my 422.

Reading glasses.:laughing:
metric and standard
Socket set
open/box end wrenches
allen wrenches
screw drivers
pliers
oil filter wrench

welder, both stick and wirefeed. I gave my stick welder to my nephew and bought an Everlast that did both stick and wire.

I need to pick up a torque wrench, but that's for the vehicle lug nuts.

 

[MossRoad]

Don't forget the big giant nut under the center section that needs to be tightened/checked periodically.

- Two grease guns; normal grease for the joints and high-speed grease for mower bearings.
- Basic hand tools; sockets, ratchets, screw drivers.
- That's about it.

 

[jfh28]

I second this......location of some of the hose connections are just next to impossible to get at.......also your phone camera......take pic's of everything before you start to disassemble......helps immensely when it comes time to put back together....now where did this hose go again?.......lol.......Jack

The best hand tool purchases beyond the basics I would suggest to any PT owner is Crows Feet and Bent or Curved Open End Wrenches.

 

[jsduke]

I have the greasegun(s), standard sockets, ratchets and combo wrenches etc. What I am looking for is the tool(s) that when you got knee deep into the machine you realize that if only I had a...this would be relatively easy instead of a nightmare. The tub looks like a Bear to access much of anything in there. In addition to Woodland Farms suggestion of crowfoot and bent or curved (maybe offset too?) has anyone used a flex head ratchet, a ratcheting box wrench or wobble extensions/sockets.

The PT is like 80%+ hydraulic...any benefit to having some flare nut wrenches on hand to better handle the inevitable leak?

The less challenging it is for me to access, remove and replace parts/assemblies the more enjoyable that part of the PT ownership will be.

Thanks PTers

 

[woodlandfarms]

IMO, and I am no mechanic, the Flare Nut are really best for more delicate work, like brake lines. You are dealing in larger size fittings that don't seem to need that level of finesse. But that is just me. I have a fairly well stocked tool chest and the flared just don't see much action.

As you mentioned, the machine is hydraulic. As for Diagnosing, I would consider in addition a voltmeter and a hydraulic pressure gauge. Neither are necessary upon purchase of your machine, but at some point you will be tracking shorts and wondering why your machine is doing X,Y or Z . These two tools are great for tracking down the propblems

And sure, the wobble heads are great. Sometimes it feels like you are working on a Porsche, they have jammed so much in so tightly.

 

[MossRoad]

We had a saying in I.T.....

"You can redundancy yourself into the poorhouse real quick."

You have to decide how much downtime costs you, and are you willing to get a bunch of tools for something that may or may not ever go down.

On my PT425, I've yet to have something I couldn't handle with my basic socket and wrench set in both standard and metric sizes, and a welder. The only specialty tools I've had to purchase are the huge wrench for the huge nut on the center joint, and some easy outs for broken bolts.

The basic socket and wrench set has three sizes of drives, three sizes of extensions of various lengths, and three sizes of universal joints. Then there's open end wrenches. That gets me into just about everywhere. I do have some ratcheting box wrenches, but those were purchased for my old job, and are only home now because I got retired. While they are handy, they aren't necessary at all. In fact, you can get yourself into trouble with ratcheting box wrenches if they don't have a ratchet release lever. You can back out a nut or bolt in a tight space and then realize you can't get the wrench off, and no way to reverse it (can't flip it over). Then you're screwed good.

I do have some impact sockets, and an air impact wrench with the compressor, but again, that's not necessary, but very convenient when doing things like wheel removal, brush hog blade changes, etc....

As for welder, I have a stick welder I bought about 40 years ago when I was 18. Works great. I also have a 110V wirefeed/MIG welder that works great. And a oxy/acetylene torch that works great. If you're going to do repairs on the steel yourself, then something like that is a worthy purchase. I think the 110v wire feed/MIG welder is the way to go for most repairs to the implements, but you may want something that goes 110/220v for thicker stuff like the tubs, joints, etc....

So, for me, essential tools list would be:
- Good basic standard/metric socket/wrench set 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drives.
- Good screwdrivers.
- Easy outs/bolt extractors.
- Impact sockets with breaker bar.
- Big wrench for the center nut.
- Air compressor.
- Impact wrench.
- Volt/OHM meter or just a simple circuit tester.

The most important thing to remember is CLEAN THE MACHINE before you work on any hydraulics. So a jug of Simple Green cleaner, or some other engine degreaser is essential.

A power washer is nice, but you can do damage to wiring, engine, etc... if not careful. A garden hose works well with a good degreaser.

A dirty area to wash the machine down and a clean area to work on it once it's clean. :thumbsup:

Lots of shop rags, paper towels, oil drip tray or two, oil drain pans.

And a mini-fridge with your favorite beverages..... :drink:

 

[jsduke]

OK...all good to know. I have quite a bit of what you listed Moss. But there are some big gaps too. I do have a multimeter and a pressure gauge (somewhere) and a pressure washer.. The welder, while tempting, will have to wait because the garage is not wired at this point (I run an extension from the house when I need power).

I have six infernal combustion powered (4 stroke) machines including the 425. Up until now most of the major service and repairs we had done by a dealer and more recently by a friend. But with him getting busier and busier, the fairly unique challenges of the PT and with me looking for a bit more to do, I figured it was time to tool up and take much of it on. I am obviously not a mechanic but have some aptitude so...

Yeah Moss, redundancy has a price and too much analysis will lead to paralysis (IT too).

 

[jsduke]

Oh, and sadly, my mini-fridge days are long over. Dr. Dukes orders